LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 33, 3 February 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A Press Association message from Nelson states that the death occurred with painful suddenness at Nelson on Thursday afternoon of Mr. O. W. Hanby, for many years editor of the “Nelson Evening Mail.” He, had been present at a Mayoral picnic at Maitai Park, and was leaving the ground when he fell down and expired in a few minutes. Mr. Hanby was 57 years of age, and was formerly subeditor of the “Sydney Daily Telegraph.” He leaves a widow and a grown-up family. The daughters are Mrs. E. C. Robinson, Stratford, and M : ss Hanby, Nelson, and the son the Rev. H. 0. T. Hanby, Vicar of Taumarunui.

Some months ago, in accordance with a wish expressed by Conference that a week’s mission services should be held in every Methodist Church throughout the Dominion during l ( Jl£, the congregation of Wesley Church indicated its desire that the mission in Stratford should be conducted by the Rev. Chas. E. Beecroft. Mr. Beecroft was then on a world tour, from which he returned to Auckland last week. The gratifying intelligence has now been received that he is willing and anxious to comply with the invitation from this circuit. The rev. gentleman is expected to assume charge of the Mount Albert circuit early in April, and has fixed the last week in March as the date for his mission here. Mr. Beecroft’s name is. a household word among New Zealand Methodists, and with many outside that communion, and his visit to this circuit will be an event of some ecclesiastical importance.

For some time past a number of the residents at Colcdale, New South Wales, liavo complained of losing a large quantity of poultry, and the loss was attributed to foxes, but all efforts to discover the cause of the disappearance of the poultry failed (says; the Sydney Morning Herald). The trouble was becoming so acute that the owners determined to scour the bush in search of the offender. Their efforts wore at last rewarded, but instead of discovering foxes, they came upon a collie slut which had gone wild and had several litters of pups which were a cross between dingo and collie. The slut was shot, but most of the other dogs escaped. Some of the dogs were'full grown. At the spot where the discovery was made (a large hollow log) ample proof was found as to what had become of the fowls which had disappeared from the surrounding,.faitVJn yards. The place was strewn with bones and feathers and the regular beaten tracks towards thb different farms boro evidence of the slaughter which had been going on of late. Although the French are a notably sober race, the ravages of absinthe among the working classes have for a considerable time caused alarm, feo much so that the French Government lias several times tried to interfere and diminish its sale or use. To limit its consumption as much as possible now, a Bill of the most drastic nature has been presented with the object of interdicting both manufacture and sale in the .Republic. It ordains that the, manufacture, importation, circulation and sale of every liquor of the nature of absinthe shall be interdicted. It prescribes a penalty of from three months’ imprisonment to two years’ imprisonment, while a line of from 500 to 10,000 francs, or of either of these penalties. Importers and vendors are to bo punished with imprisonment of from three months a year, or a fine ol from 100 to 500 francs, or both. The tribunal may also altogether prohibit from trading in drinks anyone who shall be reconvicted, and the interdicted drinks and material shall be confiscated.

On being defeated in December 1910 in the Romford election the Unionist candidate Mr. W. P. Griggs, vowed with Spartan fortitude that from that day he would not smoke, dance, nor play cards until such time as a Unionist M. P., again represented Romford, or at any rate until the present Government should he driven from power. The grim struggle between temptation and will power goes on week after week. Week after week friends and foes alike hold out to the unfortunate martyr all iits of inducements to break his vow. Perp'e accost him in the street and puff good cigar smoke into his nostrils. Small boys ask him for cigarette cards. Unknown enemies wnjte p> a:siag the virtues of some now mixture. Samples of cigars, both grave and gay. an ve at his house every week, and are studiously stored up against the dawning of the day when he may smoko eg.-,’" His letter box is crammed fell v.ilb invitations to dances rr to 1.1 ;dge parties. But still 'he nitoons man is adamant. “I intend to stick to it to the bitter end,” be says' with teeth, “even if it means another twenty years. But, judging from the well-attended meetings I am getting if won’t bo long before 1 am tasting the joys of tobacco again.”

The question of disestablishment of the church of Wales has for many years held a foremost position in the Liberal programme. »So long ago as 1891 it fell to Mr. Asquith, on behalf of the Liberal Government to bring in a Bill for the same purpose and the prospective measure is on the same lines. According to the Liberal Monthly, “the broad practical ground on which the case for the Bill rests is the fact that the Church in Wales is only the church of a small minority of the Welsh people. Every test, both religious and political, that can be applied, proves this to be true. All round, the figures show a three to one preponderance on the side of Non-con-formity. Politically, too, the case is overwhelming. For more than twenty years the Welsh people have voted by great majorities for the disestablishment (in 1900 the majority was over 91,000, nearly double what it was in 1895). During the same time almost all their representatives have been in favour of it, never more than five out of the thirtv-fouv have voted against it, while in 1900 every Welsh member was returned, pledged to it. As Mr, Asquith said, a demand supported like that cannot be refused on any ground that is consistent with democratic principles.”

A meeting of ratepayers to consider the proposed electric light loan is to he called for either the 9th or 13th 5 nst.

Mr. J. F. Arnold, late M.P. for Dunedin Central, last night received separate presentations from the prison warders of New Zealand and from his political supporters.—Press Association.

Mr. H. L. Hogg, one of Stratford’s architects, who lias for some time been managing the Stratford branch of Mr. J. A. Duflill’s business, will take over this office from February 3rd. Mr. Hogg holds a diploma from the School of Architecture, London.

As some misapprehension may arise from a paragraph published yesterda_y, it should be stated that the whole of the school—both high and primary sections—will resume on Monday. For four weeks school work will be carried on in the manner obtaining before the holidays. A Wellington Press Association message states that the following are the successful New Zealand candidates for cadetships at the Royal Australian .Military College at Duntroon, New South Wales:—A. Carrington and C. Opic (Christchurch), D. Bremncr, E. Rawlings and W. .Stevens (Auckland), and C. Hume (Gisborne). There were fifteen candidates for ten cadetships, but only the six abovementioned qualified. The other four vacancies will be filled by .selection.

An incipient fire occurred at the Crystal Coffee Palace yesterday, when a blind flapping in the breeze through an open window caught alight It is thought that a lighted match or a cigarette thrown from upstairs must have set it on fire. The flanles were noticed by several people, who for a moment, fancied that a serious outbreak had occurred, till they saw that the flames were confined to the blind, and watched them being quickly put out by the inmates. The Rev. B. Metson returned to Stratford last night. He attended the annual conference of the Methodist Church in Christchurch, and afterwards spent an enjoyable holiday with his people in Temuka. Mr. Metson speaks hopefully of the possibility of union of the Methodist and Wesleyan churches. The question is to be considered by the 'Wesleyan Conference early in March, and when its decision is known the matter will be submitted to the vote of members of the Methodist Church. All members of the church who have been members of a year and are over eighteen years old are eligible to vote.

Even the thorny Morocco negotiations have their lighter side. The Berlin correspondent of the “Telegraph” states that Her von KiderlenWaechter and M. Jules Gambon recently exchanged photographs as mementoes of the hundred odd meetings which were necessary before they reached a solution of the.difficult problem set them. Beneath his own picture the German Foreign Secretary wrote the dedication; “A mon ami aimable et ennemi terrible.” Not to be outdone, the French diplomatist transposed the adjectives, and subscribed his photograph with the words “A moh ami terrible et ennemi aimable.”

In common with a large number of Western Canadian towns, the municipal authorities at Moose Jaw, which .is on the border of the two countries were very dissatisfied with the results of the Canadian census and decided to test "its truth .n, It., was accordingly determined to take steps to check the figures of the Federal Census Department, with the result that the population of Moose Jaw is now given at 20,623 against 13,82-1, as disclosed by the Federal census. It will be seen that there is a discrepancy of nearly, 7000 between the Federal and other municipal returns which tends to show that the count for the whole of Canada fell considerably short of enumerating all the inhabitants. It can hardly be assumed that the populat’on of Moose Jaw has increased by 50 per cent, in a few weeks, yet such a percentage of error in the Federal census as this would indicate seems almost incredible.

Recruiting for the Australian Navy is p-oceeding so expeditiously (states the Sydney “Daily Telegraph” of 17th inr.t.) that the Navy Office is endeavouring to arrange for large extensions ■n{ the Williamstown Navy Depot. It is desired to acid temporary barracks for 100 men. During December 79 men signed on for five'to seven years, most of them coming from Victoria and Tasmania. Large numbers of applications have been received this month, and the Naval Board is accepting all that can he properly accommodated. The Williamstqwn Depot presents a lively appearance, for, in addition to the recruiting, there is the work of the School of Wireless Telegraphy, which is training operators for the fleet unit. The suggested arrangements for the men to be trained on the Challenger could not bo made.